Month: July 2012

At Last

I’ve finally ventured into the world of designing. Today I tatted a Dalek (the Daleks are the Doctor’s arch nemeses). I know, this must seem small and insignificant to you, but this is my first ever tatting design, the first piece I’ve ever made without using a pattern at all. I’m so proud. I’m hoping to incorporate it into a larger piece, but I’m not going to tell you what yet. I’ll show you when I’ve got it all worked out. I’m so excited!!

 

Books :D

I love to read. So today while at a consignment shop I took the opportunity to look through the books. Usually I don’t find much, although I always keep my eyes peeled for anything Tolkien wrote or any other classics that are just good to have and to have read. Today I found 6 books. I only got 4 of them because I decided that 2 of them weren’t worth my time. I got an Illustrated Sherlock Holmes (he was my favourite all growing up), A Poe Reader, and The Count of Monte Cristo. Score for me. Oh, and I found something funny:

Being a Christian and a Creationist, I found it humorizing that Darwin’s Origin of the Species was on the Fiction shelves. Just saying.

Ring Around the Rosie

It’s been a couple of days, but I haven’t been slacking. Well, maybe a little. I was at my Grandma’s house these past 2 days and completely forgot most of my tatting supplies. I brought some wire with me, though. You know, the really flexible kind with plastic on it? It’s good for beaded jewelry and stuff. I thought it would be interesting to try tatting with it. I’ve seen some ideas for a tatted ring, but I think one made of yarn would annoy me because it would be floppy. But one made of wire? Now there’s a thought.

I had forgotten my tatting shuttle, so I had to finger tat. The wire bit into my left hand a bit, so I used a band-aid to prevent a blister. And another. And yet another. And my wrist has been hurting, so out came the wrist brace. I didn’t know tatting was such a dangerous activity! 

It all ended well, though. The ring was finished. Sadly, though, it turned out much too big. I suppose I’ll end up cutting it up for the beads and trying again.

If Music Be the Food of Love…

Play on! Or so said Shakespeare.

You know, almost every musician who has ever lived has tried to write his own music. No matter how wonderful and glorious the works of his favourite composers, there is something – some music – inside him that just wants to get out. Now the music may not be very good, especially at first, but it is his. And that, to him, gives it great value.

Today I began the task of transcribing my ideas into Finale, a computer program specifically created for music notation. While the task can be boring and tedious it is also illuminating as I remember my creations of yesteryear. Most of them came to me in a flash and I scrambled for pencil, paper, anything to get them down before the muse left and I forgot. I had little time for rhythm and key. I told myself I would remember it. Maybe…

So wish me luck. I may uncover a jewel! Or at least be inspired to finish some of my projects.

And the Verdict Is…

Well, I promised a follow-up post about my baking endeavours. Happily, no one died yet as a result of tasting my food, but time will, I suppose, tell. However, while it was not a failure, I won’t count it a success either. You see, the sourdough bread wasn’t very sour. More like a slightly-sour white bread that still tasted good. And the Red Velvet Cake was neither red nor very velvety. So I guess I’m going to go look for more recipes and hope to find the perfect one. I really don’t like the idea of half a bottle of food colouring though…any suggestions?

Hey you! Yeah, you!!

Hi! It’s been too long since I’ve posted. My apologies. I’m sure you understand about the busyness of life. Anyway, happy 4th to my fellow Americans. I meant to post but I was too tired after work and I didn’t have internet anyway. I did get to help make this yummy cake while I was at work, though. 

The mask is going quite well. I’m almost done, but I’m beginning to lose steam. You know how I am when it comes to ongoing projects. I’m finally getting in the mood to cycle around and work on my original project again, which is a boon. I got frustrated enough with the mask that I started yet another project. This makes 4 going on at once. The pattern is MaryKonior’s “Network” from Tatting with Visual Patterns. I love this book. I’m a visual person, so the way she draws her patterns out is so helpful to me. I’ve actually begun to adopt her system and when I read through a new pattern I draw it out so I can make sure I know what I’m supposed to be doing.

I tie-died for the first time yesterday!! Yes, I am a child of the ’90s (or at least, I was born in the ’90s). I’m not really sure why I had never tie-dyed before, but I have now, and that’s what counts.

I’m going over to my friend’s house for dinner, so I’m planning to make bread and Red Velvet Cake. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Over and out.